This year, I want you to work smarter, not harder. I want you to be motivated, in a positive frame of mind, and reach all of the goals you have set for yourself this year, and beyond! Here are some tips to help get you there.

13 Smart Ways To Guarantee You’ll Finally Reach Your Goals This Year

1. Write your goals down & look at them every day.

There are distractions all around us, and we are constantly bombarded and interrupted with e-mails, text messages, phone calls, and Facebook messages from friends and family. If you’re not reminding yourself of your goals on a daily basis, you will easily get sidetracked, and end up wasting valuable time. Don’t let that happen to you. This is why vision boards are so great. They keep your goals visible and in front of you all day, every day.

I was really inspired yesterday, as I spoke to one of my Joffrey Ballet School students about some of her challenges as a young dancer, and also her progress over the past school year. She was feeling a little down about her progress, and shared that her younger brother and sister, who are between the ages of 5 and 10 yrs old, had received scholarships for a dance program. She said that they were much more advanced than she was at their age, and that everything came so easy to them. She, on the other hand, had to struggle through many challenges, along with not having the typical “dancer body” (whatever that is).

I became very curious as we continued to talk, and as she opened up, I learned some things about her that I did not know, and that really shocked me! I gained a whole new level of respect for her, after hearing her story, and it really inspired me as well.

Real-Life Challenges

She explained to me that she was born with many disabilities, was made paralyzed as a toddler by a vaccination that she received, was autistic as a young child, and also had a deformity with her feet, which greatly affected her ability to walk properly. (Mind you, if you saw her today, in my dance class, you would never even believe that any of this was true, let alone possible!)

Through years of intense physical therapy, and being part of a successful clinical trial, she was able to overcome all of her ailments, and become what most people consider to be a “normal child” (and I use the world normal loosely here). Her parents then got her involved in Ballet classes as a child, to help her with her coordination. Fast forward seven or eight years, and here she is in New York City, as a Ballet trainee, at the world-renowned, Joffrey Ballet School! God is awesome!!

During our conversation, I told her that she has to remember how far she’s come when she’s evaluating her personal progress as a dancer. She beat the odds, and overcame obstacles that my other students couldn’t even imagine going through! She didn’t have the same natural flexibility, and talents that her siblings had, because she started out with an unfair disadvantage. But I reminded her that, her experience has helped to make her a very hard-working, focused, determined, and passionate young dancer. You can see how passionate and expressive she is when she dances, and now I know where that comes from. It comes from her appreciation and gratitude for even being able to dance, after having so many obstacles in her way. Of course, she had teachers that told her that she’d never be able to dance, based on her conditions and physical disabilities, but she sure showed them!!

The moral of this story:

Don’t underestimate God’s power, and His ability to bring healing and restoration in your life. If you have the faith, the determination, and the spirit of perseverance, there is no challenge that you can’t overcome. You will have to work hard, but the end result will be totally worth it! My student is a prime example of this.

Don’t compare your progress, success, or life to that of your friends, colleagues, or family members. Their story is not your story. They have not had to face the same challenges that you have. They have different strengths, weaknesses, talents, and a different history then you. Embrace YOUR story, and who YOU are, and celebrate it!

Don’t listen to the naysayers. There will always be people around you that will be skeptical, and ready and willing to tell you 101 reasons why something won’t work. Don’t listen to them. Listen to God. What is God telling you to do? Focus on that. Even when YOU become your own naysayer, tell yourself to shut up too! Stay in a positive frame of mind, and always maintain a Can-Do attitude.

Never forget how far you’ve come. It’s so easy to look at where you are today, and start to have a pity party about all of the things you have yet to accomplish, all of the mistakes you made, and how much farther along you’d hoped to be in your life by now. But hold on a second. Did you forget about where you came from? Have you forgotten about where you started? Take a moment to reflect and recognize just how far you’ve come, from where you used to be. That is an incredible testimony and blessing, and something that you should remember and give thanks for, every day!

No matter what you’re going through, or what you’ve been through, there is a purpose in your pain. God will take those things in your life that seem negative, unpleasant, or unfair, and use them for something good. If you trust Him, and allow Him to heal you, lead you, and guide you, you will find out that there is nothing too hard for God, and that he can turn ANY situation around, according to his perfect will.

Be encouraged today, celebrate how far you’ve come, and get excited about where God is taking you in the future!

Have you ever had to overcome really tough, life challenges? How did you do it? Share your story in the comments section below.

If you need help overcoming a challenge, post it in the comments section, and I will be sure to respond with my advice. 🙂

Please share this post on Facebook, Twitter, Linkedin, Google+, and all of your favorite places to hang out online. Let’s spread love today!

Don’t you just hate it when you look around and it seems like everyone around you has the perfect life. They’re happily married, their kids are well-behaved, getting excellent grades in school, mom’s hair and fashion are always on point, although she runs a successful million-dollar business, AND is a stay-at-home mom. Or, your dance friends are all working at great, paid, dance gigs, with more work coming from every direction, they’re teaching, choreographing, and oh, just got cast in yet another Broadway show!

If you look at it, it seems as if everyone’s life is perfect, except for yours. Well I have news for you…

It’s simply NOT TRUE!!!

EVERYBODY has problems, issues, challenges, obstacles, weaknesses, failures, and struggles, not just you. Most people are just not open about them, and don’t make it a point to share their struggles with the world, or even their closest friends or family, because they want to keep up a good front.

The problem begins when you think that everyone else around you is doing better than you, and has something that you don’t have, which is why their life is so much better than yours. This is where you have to be careful, and ensure that you maintain the proper perspective on your life, and the lives of those around you.

Here are 3 important things to remember to maintain peace and the proper perspective:

1. Life Happens in Seasons. There’s a time to plant (or sow), and there’s a time to harvest (or reap). Just because you’re broke, lonely, or sick today, doesn’t mean that’s how you’ll be a week, a month, or a year from today. There are times in your life when it will seem like everything that can go wrong is going wrong, and there are times in your life when things will be so beautiful and happy that you’ll feel overwhelmed, like it’s too good to be true. Whatever season you’re in, know this: seasons change. The way to be victorious and have peace and joy no matter what season you’re in, is to remember that God is in control, He is with you, and He will equip you with whatever you need to flourish throughout the different seasons of life. Also keep in mind that, seasons of life are always changing and evolving, so if you don’t like the season that you’re currently in, no problem. Learn what you can learn from it, and allow God to strengthen your faith in Him, your character, and your will and determination to reach your goals, and your full potential. Then when things get better, you will be extremely grateful, have the character to remain humble, and the compassion to care for and help others who may be going through what you’ve gone through in the past.

2. Every Successful Person Has Overcome Failure, Fear, Challenges, and Obstacles.All of the people that you look up to and admire, have gone through many of the same challenges that you’re facing right now. You’re not unique in that sense. We all have a story, and although each of our stories is different, pain, heartache, failure, disappointment, challenges, fear, and doubt, are all common themes within our lives. Focus on the truth that, there is nothing new under the sun, which means, whatever you’re facing today, someone else has already gone through it, and overcome it. If they can do it, then you can do it too! They are no more special, unique, or talented than you are. It really all comes down to determination, and perseverance. Remember, God doesn’t give you more than you can bear, and with every trial, He provides a way of escape (or a solution). Don’t give up! Whatever obstacle you’re facing today, God is bigger, and He can and will help you to overcome it!

3. Don’t Let A Lack of Resources Become an Excuse.I bet if I asked you to give me a list of the top ten things you need right now to take your career or business to the next level, you could run them down to me within 60 seconds. But my question for you is, what are you doing with the resources you currently have? Are you maximizing every single resource, and every bit of knowledge that you have at your fingertips now? I bet that, even with your limitations, I could find more ways that you could be using and maximizing your current resources, to help you reach your goals. But listen, I totally get it. I know the feeling of being in a position where you can see all of the awesome things you could do if you just had more funding, or more income, or a bigger dance studio, or more money for advertising and marketing, or a brand new computer or camera. I get it!! But your job is to do ALL that you can, right where you are, with what you have, and then ask God to do what you can’t do. He will do it! He will make a way! I’m a living witness! God has given me access to so many amazing resources and opportunities, that I would’ve never even known about, if it wasn’t for Him. Do your due diligence, and know that God knows what you have need of, before you even ask.

I want to encourage you today. Know that, you’re not alone in your problems, struggles, obstacles, and failures. I have plenty of them too. But it’s all about how you choose to manage these issues, and the different seasons of life. Will you be encouraged and motivated by your friends who seem to be doing better than you, and are in a harvest season, or will you become bitter and jealous, while you’re in your season of planting and sowing? It’s your choice.

Just remember, everything happens for a reason, and every experience along your journey is there to help you grow, build your character, give you compassion for others, and increase your faith and trust in God. We can’t make it through this journey alone. We need God, and we need each other. So take a moment today to write down some things that you’re thankful for, and then take a moment to go and encourage a friend or family member, or student. You never know what people are going through. A kind word from you, could change their life!

Post your comment below with some of the things that you’re thankful for today,or share one of your A-Ha moments, from reading this post.

Please share this post on Facebook, Twitter, Linkedin, Google+, and all of your favorite places to hang out online. Let’s spread love today!

Are you trying to figure out how to turn your passion into a successful business?

“I have too many talents and passions to choose one thing. I want to give back to young women, open a restaurant, and even start a clothing with my teenage daughter. I just don’t know where to start. How do I begin this journey? ” ~ Passionate Mommypreneur

The other day, I received this message from one of my wonderful Facebook friends, with a dilemma that so many of us have faced at one point or another. Some of you may even be facing this struggle right now. So I decided that it would probably be a good idea to share our conversation, and the advice I gave to her to get started.

My suggestion is:1. First, pray on it. Ask God what He will have you to do. Sometimes we feel overwhelmed, and unsure of what direction to go in, and one revelation or word from God, can give us instant clarity. Seek Him first, and wait to hear what direction He is leading you in.

2. Ask yourself, “what do I believe my life’s purpose is? who do I want to help? what am I naturally good at? what things do I want to help change or improve in our world, and in the lives of individuals that I am here to impact?” Write down your answers, and take notice of what themes you see popping out at you.

3. Start right where you are with what you have, and start with what you’re already doing. You may have dreams to start a restaurant, and the clothing line with your daughter, among other things, but what are you doing right now? What do you do in your free time? What I mean is, what things are really good at, and really passionate about, right now? Are you already helping your daughter design new clothing, or style herself, and her friends? Are you already trying new recipes every day, and cooking for your family or friends’ events?

Focus first on building a business around things that you’re already doing, already good at, and constantly striving to grow and get better at. That is a solid foundation to start a business. You’ll need those natural skills, abilities, and passion, to get you through the initial challenges of starting and growing your own business. But it will be easier to manage them, when you are doing something that you love, and something that you are masterful with.

Once you’ve started that business, over time, as you grow and have experienced some success, you can begin to branch out and explore your other business ideas, smarter, and wiser.

Again, take everything to the Lord in prayer. His wisdom and voice are more powerful than any other thought, opinion, or feedback you’ll ever get from yourself, or someone else.

“Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart; I appointed you as a prophet to the nations.” ~ Jeremiah 1:5

My parents were very loving and supportive of me growing up, and they gave me a great spiritual foundation to build from at a young age. But as young adult, I wasn’t quite sure what my purpose was. I knew that God created me, and that I was here for a purpose, but I didn’t know what that was, and I didn’t have anyone that spoke to me about discovering it, or living it out. I ultimately discovered my purpose through a lot of trial and error, life experiences, and most importantly, through seeking God’s voice and counsel through prayer, and through reading my bible.

Your life’s purpose is not something to be taken lightly, or something to ignore. It’s important, not only for you, but for all of the people that you were put on this earth to bless and influence. When you discover your purpose, and live it every day, you feel fulfilled, and like you’re making a positive impact on the world, because you are. When you are living your life with purpose, you never run out of steam, because your purpose is God-ordained and God-designed, especially for you. Therefore, the strength to live your purpose comes from God, not just from you. What a blessing that is!

So what is your purpose? Well, there is one purpose that we all have in common, and it’s found in Luke Chapter 10, verse 27, and it says,

“Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind’; and, ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.” ~ Luke 10:27

But on top of that, God gives each of us special gifts, passions, and groups of people that we are supposed to positively influence in our lifetime. Your purpose is serious business, so don’t take it lightly, and don’t put off to tomorrow, what you can do today.

“God has given each of you a gift from his great variety of spiritual gifts. Use them well to serve one another.”~ I Peter 4:10

My life’s purpose is tied to my passion for dance artists and passionate entrepreneurs. I am here to inspire, encourage, and motivate you to discover your unique purpose and greatness, while sharing the love of Jesus Christ. I am dedicated to helping dance artists and passionate entrepreneurs build a better quality of life, and be empowered with the tools, resources, knowledge, skills, and confidence, to build long-term wealth, and build a legacy.

Everything that I’ve done in my life, from all of my jobs (the ones I loved, and the ones I didn’t), my business, all of my personal obstacles, life challenges, and victories, have all been for a divine purpose. Tera Carissa Hodges says, “Your process taught you how to lead others through theirs.”So here I am today, ready to offer you the motivation and inspiration you need to pursue your God-given destiny, and live your purpose, wholeheartedly, authentically, and without shame.

3 Power Tips For Living Your Purpose With Passion, Patience, and Prosperity:

1. Discover what it is. Before you can live out your purpose, you first have to know what your life’s purpose is. “So I say to you: Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened.” ~ Luke 11:9-10 Your life’s purpose will evolve over time, as you grow and mature spiritually, and move through different phases of your life, but the core of it will remain the same. Ask God to reveal your life’s purpose to you as you pray and seek Him, and then answer the questions below to help you tap into it:

– What am I naturally good at?

– What do I do naturally, without even thinking about it (plan parties, connect people for jobs or relationships, help people with their kids, organize things, motivate people, make people laugh, teach other people, etc.)?

– What do I enjoy doing so much that I am constantly reading more about it, learning more about it, and trying new ways to experience it?

– What things do I see that upset me, or bother me, or drive me to want to take action, and do something about it?

2. Always Find Ways To Incorporate Your Purpose Into Your Daily Activities. Maybe you know that your passion and purpose are tied to teaching young children how to dance, and encourage their personal growth and self-confidence, but right now, you’re working in an office job, as a Salesperson at Macy’s, or as a Barista at Starbucks. No worries, find ways to still incorporate your life’s purpose into your daily activities, even if you’re not doing it as your profession yet. Write a blog about dance, geared towards kids, teens, and parents in your spare time, and stay connected to your purpose that way. Make YouTube videos offering tutorials, tips, dance lessons, or advice, to make sure you’re living your purpose every day. Get creative, and make sure that you’re always putting your skills, passion, and purpose to good use.

3. Don’t Grow Weary. If God has called you to do something, He will provide you with the grace, the strength, and the resources to do it. Period. Don’t let obstacles hold you back, discourage you, or get in your way. Remember that, when you get tired and weary, and are tempted to let your fears or challenges hold you back, many people are affected by that decision, not just you. So many times, after sending out my weekly e-newsletter, or posting an inspirational message on Facebook, I get an e-mail or comment from someone saying that they really needed to hear what I said, or, that it really encouraged and uplifted them. That is why I do what I do. Be motivated by the positive impact that you are destined to have on the lives of others, when you feel like giving up, be encouraged to persevere through challenges every day.

Your Homework:

1. Write down your answers to the questions that I listed above related to discovering your purpose.

2. Write down a personal mission statement, and keep it somewhere that you can see it, and refer to it on a daily basis. Share it on your social media profiles, and on your website/blog. If you own a business, write a mission statement for your business, and post it on your website and blog.

3. Share your life’s purpose with a few people that you trust, and encourage them to do the same. Create a network of friends (in real life, and on social media), that will empower and encourage you every day to live your purpose, in all that you do.

Post a comment below telling me what you believe your life’s purpose is, and when/how you discovered what it was. Share what resonated with you from this post, or what your “A-Ha” moment was.

And lastly, sharing is caring. Share this post with your friends and family on Facebook, Twitter, and your favorite social media sites. Let’s work together to uplift, inspire, and encourage one another! 🙂

“Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.” ~ Galatians 6:9 — Be encouraged today!

Welcome to my blog! I’m Ashani Mfuko, Social Media Strategist, Business Coach, TV Host, and Dance Entrepreneur. Today I am going to share some very valuable advice with you on, “How To Stay Strong and Positive During Difficult Times & Life Challenges”.

Lord knows, I’ve seen my share of difficult times and life challenges: from the unexpected death of a loved one, to almost being evicted, to dealing with the aftermath of a failed long-term relationship, I’ve certainly experienced some very low times throughout my life. But one thing has remained the same, no matter haw bad things got for me, and that is:

God’s faithfulness

God has been so good to me! Even through all of my trials and difficulties, I am a living testimony that you can overcome sadness, depression, discouragement, and despair, by the power of His name.

I want you to know that, all of my advice, and tips, are based on biblical principles, so you’ll hear me reference scriptures from the bible that relate to what I’m talking about, throughout my blog posts here. All that I am, and all that I am able to do, stems from my faith in Jesus Christ as my Savior. He is the foundation of my joy, peace, and my life, and I’m so glad that I don’t have to go through life on my own, and in my own strength, as a result of my faith.

On that note, let’s delve into some of the challenges we all face on a day-to-day basis, and my 3 power tips for staying positive and overcoming your life challenges.

There are 3 main tests, trials, or challenges we all face throughout our lives:

1. Daily Challenges: Examples – leaving your keys in the car, missing the train for work, being overlooked for a raise at work, or rejected from an audition, having a sick child, a minor car accident, or getting surprised by an unexpected expense.

2. Major Life Challenges: Examples – the death of a loved one, a major sickness or serious injury, losing your home, being evicted from your apt, or the end of a serious, long-term relationship.

3. Extended Life Challenges: Examples – chronic pain or illness, unemployment, debt, finishing your higher education, waiting for your prayers to be answered, making major life changes (like overcoming an addiction, or unhealthy lifestyle or relationship habits), the journey to pursuing your dreams and goals, or starting your own business.

One thing that all of these challenges have in common is, they are all here to develop specific character qualities in us, that God wants all of us to have, which are:

Faith and trust in Him, patience, gratitude, empathy and compassion, and a desire to live our lives His way, based on His word, not on our own selfish desires.

All of the challenges we face each day, can develop these qualities in us, if we allow God to do the work that only He can do in our lives.

In my Motivational podcast entitled, “How To Live Your Purpose With Passion, Patience, and Perseverance”, I talk about how God calls all of us to:“love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind’; and, ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.'” ~ Luke 10:27.

Well, I think the hardest part of that is to “love your neighbor as yourself“. If you disagree, just take a ride on a New York City subway during rush hour, or at Christmastime, and you will feel my pain. 😉 But at the end of the day, we don’t have to try to over come these challenges on our own. God is there for us, guiding us, strengthening us, and encouraging us, every step of the way

.

So today, I’d like to share with you…

3 Tips To Stay Strong and Positive During Difficult Times and Life Challenges

1. Start the day right. Prayer, Bible, Meditation. If you have a journal, write in it. Write down what you are thankful for, and a some of the blessings that you currently have in your life.This can be anything from: “Thank you Lord for clean, running water, for heat, for being able to breathe, see, smell, and touch. Thank you for the ability to walk, for my food, clothing, and shelter, an dfor where you’ve brought me from , and what you’ve brought me through”. Let your first thoughts of the day be positive ones, and thoughts that uplift, empower, and strengthen you for the day ahead. Let go of disappointments and failures from the previous day and focus on all that is wonderful and positive about your life. Get centered, and let God give you divine guidance and strength to tackle the day ahead. Connect with inspirational and positive people on social media, so that your spirit will be filled, and surrounded with positive energy, all day long.

2. Know That There Are Seasons In Life, & Your Tests and Trials are Temporary. When you’re going through tough times, it can feel like they are never going to end, i.e., you’re never going to get over that ex, you’re never going to get out of debt, or move into a larger home, or a better neighborhood, or that you’ll never get the victory over an area of your life where you’ve failed time and again. But that’s simply not true.

“There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under heaven:” ~ Ecclessiastes 3:1 Just like the seasons of the year, winter, spring, summer, and fall. They begin, and they end.

I was talking to a woman at church last week, who’s a new mom, about child birth, and she said something to me that really stood out. She said that the pain of labor and delivery is easier to bear if you just flow with it, instead of trying to resist it, or fight it. That really resonated with me, because it’s the same with our life challenges. When you take your worries, problems, and difficulties to God in prayer, and actually leave them with Him, and not try to take them back, he gives you perfect peace. And even though you still have to experience the challenges, you have confidence that God is still in control, and that things will eventually work out, and get better, because God has promised that to you.

“The temptations in your life are no different from what others experience. And God is faithful. He will not allow the temptation to be more than you can stand. When you are tempted, he will show you a way out so that you can endure.” ~ I Corinthians 10:13

Be encouraged!

3. Be aware that you will have negative thoughts and feelings of self-doubt from time to time, and be prepared with the proper action steps to overcome and combat those thoughts immediately.

John 16:33 says, “I have told you all this so that you may have peace in me. Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world.”

For every negative thought you have, think of three positive ones. For every one thing that you think is wrong in your life, think of three things that are going right. Your mind is a muscle, and it’s up to you to strengthen it, and train it how to think, respond, and react to challenges. Keep your thoughts positive, and your mouth will follow.

“Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and those who love it will eat its fruits. “ ~ Proverbs 18:21.

Speak life, speak hope, and remember that God loves you and has created you for a divine purpose. Remind yourself of times in the past, where God has proven himself faithful to you, and know that He has given you everything you need to get through your difficulty, and to experience all of the great things that He has promised you. You just have to hold on. Always reinforce the truth that, you are fully capable of reaching your goals, and getting through this difficult time. Speak the word of God over life: “With God All things are possible”, “I can do ALL things through Christ who strengthens me”,

When in doubt, refer back to your purpose, and know that your presence is needed in the world, and no one else can replace the unique value that you have to offer. The purpose and passion that you feel in your heart is there for a reason. Remember that you are a gift to this world, and your voice, your talent, and your unique perspective is of high value. Your presence on this earth will change lives, and could possibly save someone’s life.

Even if you don’t feel motivated at times for yourself, let the fact that you are influencing others in a positive way motivate and empower you. So when times get tough, say to yourself, “This may be tough now, but I WILL come out of this, and when I do, I will be stronger, smarter, wiser, more sensitive & compassionate, and equipped to help someone else who is going through the same thing. This is not just about me.”

Your Homework:

Write down all of the challenges that you are facing today, and all of the things that are bothering you/stressing you out.

Now, write down all of the things that you are thankful for in your life, and write down three different instances where you went through a difficult time/trial, only to experience success and God’s faithfulness thereafter. Say a prayer, and thank God for His faithfulness, and for all that He is about to do in your life, and in the life of your loved ones.

Encourage someone else today who may be going through a difficult time, and post an inspirational quote, or bible scripture on your Facebook page to uplift the people in your social network.

And lastly, sharing is caring. Please share this post with your friends and family on Facebook, Twitter, and your favorite social media sites. Let’s work together to uplift, inspire, and encourage one another! 🙂